11.4 Bergman’s Students
During his years as professor, 22 students defended their theses under Bergman’s
presidium; several of these men would enter the history books in one way or the
other and are treated in the following sections. In addition to those who defended
their theses under Bergman, a long list of other students is given by Hjelm [30], but
the list is of course far from complete. It includes, e.g. Johan Gottlieb Gahn, Carl
and Gustaf Rinman, sons of Bergman’s friend Sven Rinman, and Anton Swab,
nephew of Anton von Swab (Chap. 9).
With increasing international recognition, a number of international students
travelled to Uppsala to learn more from Bergman; Hjelm mentioned nine students,
[31] and Bergman mentioned six students in his autobiography. In 1768, Christian
Ernst Heltzen (1745–1825) from Kongsberg, Norway, took a three-month course in
chemistry and mineralogy; Rotheram from England took his M.D. in Uppsala;
apothecary Friedrich Ehrhart (Sect. 14.1) from Switzerland stayed in Uppsala
1773–1776 and would correspond with both Bergman and Scheele after he left
Sweden and published several of Scheele’s letters in his journal. Isaak Grüno
(1756–1783) from Hamburg visited Uppsala 1776–1780; Thordur Thoroddsen
(1736–1796) from Iceland in 1775–1780; Nebelung from Altona; Ikonnikof from St
Petersburg, de Virly from Dijon and d’Elhuyar from Biscaya. D’Elhuyar and de
Virly, who visited Uppsala in 1782, were the last international students to visit
Bergman [32].
11.4.1 Matthias Rydell
Matthias C Rydell was born in Yllestad in the Västergötland province, in 1738. He
was Bergman’s first student and defended his thesis in physics, de attractione
universali in November 1758 (Chap. 6). The study of attractions between bodies
would become one of Bergman’s main fields as a chemist (Chap. 20). After his
studies in Uppsala, Rydell appears to have made a military career and died in
Karlskrona, the location of Sweden’s major naval base, in 1798. He published no
more scientific works, but published, e.g. a memorial lecture over a navy priest in
1771, a speech to celebrate the birth of Prince Gustav Adolf in 1779 and a memorial
song over Bergman’s patron Gustav III, who was assassinated in 1792.
11.4.2 Gustaf Swedelius
Swedelius was born in Västerås in 1748 and defended Bergman’s thesis on alum
refinement, Disquisitio chemica de confectione aluminis, in 1767 (see Sect. 9.2).
This was Bergman’s first work in chemistry. After leaving Bergman, Swedelius
continued to study medicine in Berlin and back in Uppsala he obtained his M.D.
degree in 1775 [33]. He practised as physician in Stockholm and Falun, where he
172
11 Bergman as a Teacher
During his years as professor, 22 students defended their theses under Bergman’s
presidium; several of these men would enter the history books in one way or the
other and are treated in the following sections. In addition to those who defended
their theses under Bergman, a long list of other students is given by Hjelm [30], but
the list is of course far from complete. It includes, e.g. Johan Gottlieb Gahn, Carl
and Gustaf Rinman, sons of Bergman’s friend Sven Rinman, and Anton Swab,
nephew of Anton von Swab (Chap. 9).
With increasing international recognition, a number of international students
travelled to Uppsala to learn more from Bergman; Hjelm mentioned nine students,
[31] and Bergman mentioned six students in his autobiography. In 1768, Christian
Ernst Heltzen (1745–1825) from Kongsberg, Norway, took a three-month course in
chemistry and mineralogy; Rotheram from England took his M.D. in Uppsala;
apothecary Friedrich Ehrhart (Sect. 14.1) from Switzerland stayed in Uppsala
1773–1776 and would correspond with both Bergman and Scheele after he left
Sweden and published several of Scheele’s letters in his journal. Isaak Grüno
(1756–1783) from Hamburg visited Uppsala 1776–1780; Thordur Thoroddsen
(1736–1796) from Iceland in 1775–1780; Nebelung from Altona; Ikonnikof from St
Petersburg, de Virly from Dijon and d’Elhuyar from Biscaya. D’Elhuyar and de
Virly, who visited Uppsala in 1782, were the last international students to visit
Bergman [32].
11.4.1 Matthias Rydell
Matthias C Rydell was born in Yllestad in the Västergötland province, in 1738. He
was Bergman’s first student and defended his thesis in physics, de attractione
universali in November 1758 (Chap. 6). The study of attractions between bodies
would become one of Bergman’s main fields as a chemist (Chap. 20). After his
studies in Uppsala, Rydell appears to have made a military career and died in
Karlskrona, the location of Sweden’s major naval base, in 1798. He published no
more scientific works, but published, e.g. a memorial lecture over a navy priest in
1771, a speech to celebrate the birth of Prince Gustav Adolf in 1779 and a memorial
song over Bergman’s patron Gustav III, who was assassinated in 1792.
11.4.2 Gustaf Swedelius
Swedelius was born in Västerås in 1748 and defended Bergman’s thesis on alum
refinement, Disquisitio chemica de confectione aluminis, in 1767 (see Sect. 9.2).
This was Bergman’s first work in chemistry. After leaving Bergman, Swedelius
continued to study medicine in Berlin and back in Uppsala he obtained his M.D.
degree in 1775 [33]. He practised as physician in Stockholm and Falun, where he
172
11 Bergman as a Teacher